Teaching the Omni-Brothers to Children
I remember learning about the “Omni-Brothers” when I was in Sunday School as a child. Of course, I knew they weren’t actually brothers, nor were they people, but the comparison has stuck in my mind all these years. The Omni-brothers…
Omnipotence
Omnipresence
Omniscience
Three Essential Truths
The Omni-Brothers are three essential truths about God that must be known to have a more complete understanding of Him. The Omni-brothers are big concepts to understand. However, I believe a child’s mind can begin to comprehend their essential components through faith. When they do, the Omni-Brothers can then be set firmly in place within a child’s spiritual foundation which will benefit them for a lifetime. Knowing this, let’s take a look at how we should approach teaching these beautiful truths to our kids.
Omnipotence
Teaching kids that God is Omnipotent (All-Powerful) helps them understand that there is nothing in their lives now, nor will there ever be, that God cannot help them with. He is powerful enough to have created the universe. Therefore He is powerful enough to help us live every aspect of the life He wants for us. Bible stories that reveal God’s omnipotence may include:
- The parting of the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites
- Keeping the lions’ mouths closed in the Lion’s Den for Daniel
- Saving Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace
- Paul’s miraculous deliverance from prison by an angel
These are all great stories to help teach that GOD is powerful enough to help us in our time of need. No problem is too big for Him!
How great is our LORD! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
Psalm 147:5 NLT
O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!
Jeremiah 32:17 NLT
Omnipresence
Teaching kids that God is Omnipresent (Present Everywhere) helps them experience the comfort and awareness that no matter where they might find themselves, God is with them. Some stories that teach His omnipresence are:”
- Paul and Silas in prison
- David escaping from Saul’s wrath
- The hardships of Job, or
- Elijah hiding in the cave after the victory over the prophets of Baal
These and many others are all fantastic stories that can help children see that God is with them in every place and situation.
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
Psalm 139:7-12a NLT
Omniscience
Teaching kids that God is Omniscient (All-Knowing) gives them confidence that whatever they are going through, emotionally or spiritually, God knows about it. They need to understand that there is nothing hidden from God and that He is willing to share His wisdom and insight with us if we ask. Bible stories that underscore His omniscience are:
- David’s struggles and fears throughout his life,
- Peter’s fluctuating emotions and anxieties,
- Mary and Martha’s sorrow at the tomb or,
- Gideon’s feelings of inadequacies on the threshing floor,
All of these stories exhibit God’s ability to understand the difficulties we are going through and make us aware that He will help us with every emotional and spiritual struggle we have.
O Lord, You have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, LORD.
Psalm 139:1-4 NLT
The Omni-brothers need to be a part of our children’s understanding of who God is. They are a gift of knowing that He is all powerful, He is always with us, and He knows and understands everything we are going through. These truths, when placed in a child’s heart, will become a foundational bedrock for everything they believe about God in the future.
Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson is the Producer of ISeeIt! Productions. Their latest Holiday curriculum, A Closer Look: Discovering Jesus Is More! is a two week Easter series for elementary students teaching the Omni-brothers and salvation that comes through Jesus.
